Nearly a week after a tragic mid-air helicopter collision killed seven people including 32-year-old American musician and internet personality Oliver Tree over Rio de Janeiro, the singer’s remains have been returned to his home state of California, allowing him to “finally rest” according to a statement from his family posted to his official Instagram account.
Tree first catapulted to mainstream fame in 2016 after his unique artistic persona and music went viral across social media platforms. Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California in 1993, he became instantly recognizable for his signature bowl-cut hairstyle and a string of chart-topping hits, including fan-favorite tracks *Life Goes On*, *Miss You*, and *Alien Boy*. At the time of his passing, Tree had just launched a global tour, wrapping his most recent performance in São Paulo, Brazil on June 6. He was scheduled to continue the tour with stops in Lisbon, Portugal in early July, followed by three UK shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London this coming September.
In the heartfelt statement shared to his account, Tree’s family announced they would honor the entertainer’s final wish, laid out in his will before his death, by launching a charitable foundation in his name. Named the Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses, the organization will carry forward Tree’s lifelong goal of spreading joy, love, and artistic creativity to communities around the world.
The post concluded with a message of gratitude to the millions of fans who have rallied around Tree’s loved ones in the wake of the accident. “Thank you for your constant love, support and positivity” during these extremely difficult times, the statement read. “Love you all so much, Oliver would be so proud of every one of his supporters, friends and family. Peace be with Oliver.”